Niger School Abduction: Amnesty International Condemns Govt’s Security Failure
Amnesty International has condemned the mass abduction of more than 52 schoolgirls from St. Mary’s Private (Catholic) Secondary School in Papiri Community, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
The attack occurred just three days after over 25 girls were abducted from GGCSS Maga in Kebbi State.
In a statement, Amnesty International described the incident as “a shocking indication of the authorities’ persistent failure to protect people from attacks by armed groups that have continually killed and abducted thousands of Nigerians over the last ten years.”
The organisation added, “Whatever security measures put in place by the government of President Bola Tinubu are not working.”
OSUN DEFENDER reported that the abduction took place between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., when armed assailants stormed the school hostel and kidnapped the students.
Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, head of Disaster and Relief in Agwara Local Government, confirmed the attack, while Bello Gidi, media aide to the Agwara Local Government chairman, said, “Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School.”
The Niger State Police Command stated that tactical units, military forces, and other security agencies have been deployed to the area to carry out a search and rescue operation.
The police said reports indicated that armed bandits invaded the school and abducted an as-yet undetermined number of students from the hostel.
The state government noted that it had previously suspended boarding school activities in northern Niger State due to security risks, but St. Mary’s resumed operations without official approval.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora confirmed the attack, revealing that a security guard was “badly shot” during the raid.
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